The Confluence

“Make it Here” – Bring Your Next Creative Production to Oregon

There’s something very special about the creative community here in Oregon. You can see it in everything we do. Because of that, we recently partnered with CineRent West and director Devin Boss to create “Make it Here,” a short film that shows the talent, landscapes, passion and joy that creating work in our state entails.

You can see it in the people, you can see it in the places and you can see it in the product – Oregon is a special place and if you come here to make your next creative project, you’ll want to come back.

Miller Foundation Launches Spark Awards for Artists

The application for the 2025 Spark Award for Oregon Artists is now available to individual midcareer artists creating original work in the disciplines of literary and media art. Launched in 2024, the Spark Award is a three-year pilot program during which the Miller Foundation expects to support 60 individual Oregon artists in total (20 per year) across artistic disciplines by awarding a grant of $25,000 to each selected artist. Last year, 20 performing artists received the award. In this second year, we are accepting applications from literary and media artists and in 2026 the Foundation will support 20 visual artists.

#OregonMade “Why Dig…” Nominated by NewFilmmakers LA

NewFilmmakers Los Angeles has released the nominees and jury for its 14th annual awards that recognize the top rising talent in independent film globally. Oregon filmmaker Cambria Matlow’s “Why Dig When You Can Pluck” was nominated.

The awards will recognize 130 nominees spanning 16 award categories, encompassing directors, writers, producers, performers, cinematographers, editors, sound designers, and composers. These outstanding nominees were chosen from NFMLA’s most recent programming year, which took place in 2024 and reflect some of the most promising emerging independent filmmakers globally.

Destination Oregon Hightlights “Cuckoo’s Nest” 50th Anniversary

Central Oregon Daily News’ “Destination Oregon” recently traveled to Salem to highlight the 50th anniversary of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” The film that won five Academy Awards was set at Oregon State Hospital in Salem.

Author Ken Kesey’s book about the institutional overreach and the dehumanization of the mentally ill was kryptonite to many mental institutions who did not want to be associated with this controversial cultural issue. So when Hollywood came looking for a place to make the movie, there were no takers.

Motion Picture Association Highlights the OFT

The Motion Picture Association highlighted the Oregon Film Trail with a well rounded interview with SetJetters. Appearing in The Credits section of their website and MPA and SJ highlight the power of Film Tourism and just some of the ways that Oregon Fil has led the way in qualifying that power into economic spending.

If you haven’t seen it yet, please check out the animated graphic we’ve done with our partners at SJ illustrating how Film Tourism impacts the Oregon economy.

#OregonMade “Paradise Records” Trailer is here

The PARADISE RECORDS TRAILER is here! Oregon Artist/Musician and now Filmmaker Logic says:

“I’m so excited to share the film I wrote and directed with the world and a big shoutout to everyone involved for helping me make my dream come true in making a movie! It’s an honor to premiere this at the #TribecaFestival on June 6th!!! I wanna see the Rattpack come out in full force for this special moment!”

#OregonMade “The Goonies” Turns 40! Celebrate with a 35mm screening on June 5th

Come celebrate the 40th anniversary of the quintessential Oregon (coast) movie set and shot in Astoria. It’s hard to say anything new about Richard Donner, Chris Columbus and Steven Spielberg’s classic would-be-treasure-hunters-fight-off-the-bad-guys-to-win-the-day story, but that’s why we love it. This screening kicks off Goonies Weekend happening June 7 and 8 up in Astoria, so come for a pre-game warm up before celebrating the, arguably, best known #OregonMade film in the cannon.

Book your tickets here.

Catalyst Collective Script to Screen Grant Now $15,000

In case you missed it, Catalyst Film Collective are absolutely thrilled to announce Portland Events and Film Office has joined Regional Arts and Culture Council and Funnelbox as a sponsor of Script to Screen 2025! That means, our grant has increased to $15,000, making it the largest short film grant offered in Portland!

Every entrant gets feedback from multiple professional screenwriters, our top three pitch their shorts to the collective (June 26), and our collective of filmmakers decides on the winner.

SAG-AFTRA Hosts Panel on Contracts and Incentives – May 15th

Join us to learn the ins and outs of the Oregon Film incentive – presented by Tim Williams Exec. Director of the Oregon Film Office as well as the ABC’s of ALL the SAG-AFTRA Contracts from Micro Budget (under $20K to full budget over $2M) Presenter by Will Reeve SAG-AFTRA Staff.

Questions & RSVP: [email protected]

May 15^th, 5:30-7:30

220 NW 2^nd Ave, Suite 102

Portland, OR 97209

Kickstarter Launched for Upcoming Women’s Soccer Documentary: Unmatched!

Thrilled to announce the Kickstarter launch for “Unmatched: The Team That Changed the Beautiful Game,” our upcoming feature about women’s soccer.

Our film focuses on the incredible 2005 Portland Pilots team, including Megan Rapinoe and Christine Sinclair. It celebrates the team’s historic NCAA championship, the impact of their careers, and their role in shaping women’s soccer culture in Portland and beyond, from record-breaking attendance to the success of the Thorns and the NWSL.

You can support our film by:

1) Sharing our Kickstarter link far and wide!

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